{"id":7236,"date":"2017-08-10T11:18:06","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T16:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.baseballroundtable.com\/?p=7236"},"modified":"2017-08-10T11:18:06","modified_gmt":"2017-08-10T16:18:06","slug":"pitch-counts-this-guy-made-everyt-pitch-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/pitch-counts-this-guy-made-everyt-pitch-count\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitch Counts? This Guy Made Everyt Pitch Count!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Barrett\"<\/a>On this date (May 10) in 1944, 29-year-old RHP Charles \u201cRed” Barrett faced a daunting challenge.\u00a0 Barrett \u2013 6-11, 4.53 on the season \u2013 was starting for the (43-60) Boston Braves against the (55-45) Cincinnati Reds.\u00a0 His mound opponent was veteran and six-time All Star Bucky Walters, who took the mound with a 16-5, 2.36 record. Note:\u00a0 Walters would finish the season 23-8, 2.40, while Barrett would go 9-16, 4.06.<\/em><\/p>\n

On this day, however, Barrett would prevail 2-0, tossing a complete-game, two-hit shutout.\u00a0 In the process, Barrett would set the record for the fewest pitchers ever thrown in an MLB nine-inning complete game<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 just 58 tossed to the plate.\u00a0 Barrett walked none and struck out none, facing 29 batters (two pitches per plate appearance).\u00a0 Clearly, if you stepped into the batter\u2019s box that day, you better be ready to hit \u2013 Barrett was in no mood to \u201cwaste\u201d a pitch.<\/p>\n

Walters probably deserved better that day.\u00a0 The losing pitcher gave up two runs (one earned) on just six hits, with one walk and one strikeout.\u00a0 Together, Barrett and Walters combined to throw the shortest (time-wise) MLB night game ever<\/strong> <\/span>\u2013 just 75 minutes.<\/p>\n

RED BARRETT MAY HAVE CALLED HIS SHOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Braves’ Red Barrett, who used only 58 pitches to complete a 2-0 win over the Reds on May 10, 1944 (the fewest pitches ever in a nine-inning MLB complete game), may have \u201ccalled his shot\u201d six years earlier.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are a couple of excerpts from Barrett\u2019s comments in a November 9, 1938 Los Angeles Times<\/em> article:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cThese strikeout pitchers are chumps. Me, I try to make them hit the \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0first ball.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy idea is to throw as few pitches as possible. Even when you strikeout a batter, it generally takes four-to-seven, and sometimes even more, pitches. I\u2019d rather get that batter out on one pitch and save my arm.”<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Barrett was truly a \u201cpitch to contact\u201d hurler.\u00a0 In eleven MLB seasosns, he went 69-69, 3.53 and, in 1,263 1\/3 innings, walked just 312 batters and fanned 333.<\/p>\n

\"Barrett's<\/a>

Barrett’s fine 1945 season earned him a spot on the cover of “life.”<\/p><\/div>\n

Barrett’s best season came in 1945.\u00a0 In mid-May he was a disappointing 2-3, 4.74; when he was traded to the Cardinals. He went on to win 21 games for the Redbirds \u2013 ending the campaign at 23-12, 3.00 and leading the NL in wins. complete games (24) and innings pitched (284 2\/3). He made his only All Star squad that season, but the game was not played due to World War II travel (fuel-saving) restrictions. It was the only season Barrett won more than 12 games. (He was 12-18 in 1943 and 11-12 in 1947).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LONG LINE AT THE CONCESSION STAND. DID I MISS ANYTHING?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On September 28, 191, the New York Giants topped the Philadelphia Phillies in a nine-inning contest that took just 51 minutes \u2013 tho shortest nine-inning game in MLB history. What is somewhat surprising is that, while both pitchers \u2013 Lee Meadows (Phillies) and Jesse Barnes (Giants) \u2013 went the distance, the game featured seven runs, 18 hits and three walks.\u00a0 Meadows gave up six runs (five earned) on 13 hits, while Barnes surrendered just one run on five safeties.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For those interested in such things, the shortest-ever 18-inning doubleheader (Remember those?) in MLB history took place between the Yankees and (St. Louis) Browns on September 26, 1926 \u2013 taking just two hours and seven minutes. The Brown swept the Bombers, winning Game One 6-1 in one hour and 12 minutes and taking Game Two 6-2 in just 55 minutes (the shortest-ever American League contest). The two games featured 45 hits and seven walks.\u00a0 My, how the game has changed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Barrett, while \u201cstarring\u201d in only one MLB season, did show promise in the minors. He went 159-122, with a 3.41 ERA in 12 minor league seasons \u2013 including four seasons of twenty or more victories. In 1942, Barrett was the (Double A) International League\u2019s Most Valuable player (for the Syracuse Chiefs), leading the league with 20 wins (12 losses); 34 starts; 25 complete games; and seven shutouts.\u00a0 He also fanned a league-topping 114 batters in 268 innings.<\/p>\n

Key resources:\u00a0 Society for American Baseball Research; Baaseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com.<\/p>\n

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n

Follow\/Like Baseball Roundtable\u2019s Facebook page, here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Baseball Bloggers Alliance<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On this date (May 10) in 1944, 29-year-old RHP Charles \u201cRed” Barrett faced a daunting challenge.\u00a0 Barrett \u2013 6-11, 4.53 on the season \u2013 was starting for the (43-60) Boston Braves against the (55-45) Cincinnati Reds.\u00a0 His mound opponent was veteran and six-time All Star Bucky Walters, who took the mound with a 16-5, 2.36 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n